Longoria will come to Taormina, which is among Europe’s oldest fests, to receive the Humanitarian Taormina Award for her work with the Eva Longoria Foundation, which helps Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship.

Vega and Claudia Cardinale will pick up Taormina Arte Awards. Cardinale will also be honored with several screenings of her films.

For the first time the fest, located in a Sicilian seaside resort, will host the Variety Creative Impact Award, the recipient of which has yet to be revealed.

Italy’s RaiCinema, the film arm of pubcaster RAI, will be honored for its role in supporting Italian cinema.

As previously announced, Taormina will open with “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” which will launch in Italy with a 3D screening in the fest’s 8,000-seat ancient Greek theatre, with helmer Dean DeBlois in tow. “We have already received plenty of ticket requests for the opener,” said Tiziana Rocca, Taormina’s general manager.

Other titles known to date are Charlie Kaufman’s “Synecdoche, New York,” in a homage to its protagonist, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys.”

On the industry side, the fest will host Russian and Argentine delegations to forge closer ties with those two key markets.